Intentional Self-Harm Hospitalizations

The age-standardized hospitalization rate for intentional self-harm in Simcoe Muskoka for the population 10 years and older in 2015 was 108 (98.6, 117.4) admissions per 100,000 population, which was significantly higher than the Ontario rate of 63 (61.6, 64.4) admissions per 100,000 population.

There was a significant downward trend in the intentional self-harm hospitalization rates in both Simcoe Muskoka and Ontario from 2003 to 2009, where rates declined by an average of four per cent per year; however, there was a reversal in this trend from 2009 to 2015. The Simcoe Muskoka rates have been significantly higher than the comparable provincial rates for the entire thirteen-year time period from 2003 to 2015.

By Sex

In 2015, the age-standardized hospitalization rate for intentional self-harm among Simcoe Muskoka males was 77 (66.2, 88.6) admissions per 100,000, which was significantly lower than the female rate of 140 (124.8, 155.3) admissions per 100,000. The intentional self-harm related hospitalization rates in Simcoe Muskoka were significantly higher than the Ontario rates for both males and females. The female rates were significantly higher than the male rates for the entire thirteen-year time period from 2003 to 2015.

By Age Group

Hospitalizations for intentional self-harm decreases with higher age. The age-specific rate for intentional self-harm related hospitalizations between the years 2003 and 2015 (combined) in Simcoe Muskoka was highest for youth (10-19 years) and young adults (20-44 years). The age-specific intentional self-harm hospitalization rates in Simcoe Muskoka were significantly higher than the comparable Ontario rates for all age groups.

There has been a sharp and significant upward trend in the intentional self-harm hospitalization rates among youth (10-19 years) in both Simcoe Muskoka and Ontario since 2008. These rates have more than double among Simcoe Muskoka youth over this eight-year period of time and have been significantly higher than the provincial rates for six of these years.

The Simcoe Muskoka youth (10-19 years) intentional self-harm hospitalization rates are substantially higher for females when compared with males. Both the male and female intentional self-harm hospitalization rates increased significantly in the past five years when compared with the previous time periods.

By Income

For the time period from 2011 to 2015 (combined) in Simcoe Muskoka, hospitalizations for intentional self-harm was significantly associated with neighbourhood income quintiles, such that those living in the bottom income quintile experienced double the rate of intentional self-harm hospitalizations when compared with those living in the highest income quintile.